BARRON COUNTY -- On Friday, January 26, 2018, the Barron County Sheriff’s Department was contacted by the Rice Lake Police Department regarding a female that was shot in the hand. The incident was first reported to have taken place in the Wal-Mart parking lot in the City of Rice Lake but they had learned that the incident took place at a residence in Hillsdale.
A search warrant was obtained for the residence 767 14 1⁄2 St., Hillsdale and executed by the Barron County Sheriff’s Department and the Rice Lake Police Department on Friday afternoon.
Taken into custody was Darla Hill, 30 of Barron, and Fredi Garcia, 22 of Hillsdale. Both were transported to the Barron County Jail for obstructing an investigation, booked and released.
The incident in the Wal-Mart parking lot was made up and it was determined that Garcia had brought the gun over to the residence and after a night of drinking were passing it around. When Hill took the gun, she was told it was unloaded and shot herself in the hand. Garcia then hid the gun and took Hill to a hospital for medical treatment.
Both were given future court dates in Barron County Circuit Court.
Per Chris Fitzgerald, Barron County Sheriff
The gun used was a .22 revolver.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
**Previous Post**
Woman Arrested for Obstruction After Lying to Officers About Barron Co. Gun Incident
Friday, January 26, 2018 | by Ben Dryden
BARRON COUNTY -- Earlier today, January 26, 2018, the Rice Lake Police Department issued a press release regarding an incident in which a woman reported that she had been shot in the hand during an incident that occurred in a parking lot of a retail store located on the south end of Rice Lake, WI.
Later in the day, more information was released by both the Rice Lake Police Department and the Barron County Sheriff’s Department.
The investigation of the gunshot incident was handed over to the Barron County Sheriff’s Department by the Rice Lake Police Department. In a press release today from the Barron County Sheriff’s Department, it was confirmed that a woman did receive a gunshot wound and that the incident did not occur in Rice Lake, but rather at a residence south of the City of Barron in Barron County.
Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald spoke to DrydenWire.com by phone and confirmed that the woman who reported the incident, which DrydenWire.com has learned to be Darla Hill, was placed under arrest for Misdemeanor Obstruction for providing false information to law enforcement regarding the incident.
At this time, it is unknown to DrydenWire.com why Hill initially fabricated information about the location of the incident.
Sheriff Fitzgerald said that there were other “players” involved in this situation and that they “were either in custody or cooperating with law enforcement”. The Sheriff said that he anticipates other charges to be filed once the investigation has been completed on the other "players".
Rice Lake Police Department has stated that their Department will be referring a case to the Barron County District Attorney’s Office for possible criminal charges of obstruction due to the fabricated story that Hill initially provided.
The firearm involved was located, and there is no further danger to the public resulting from this situation.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Jan 29, 2018 9:40 am CST
